In just over a month, we will be welcoming the largest incoming class in our history, approximately 200 more freshmen than in 2012. The average ACT score of all CEAS applicants increased by 0.6 points over last year, and students offered admission to CEAS have the highest average ACT (28.1) at UC. In addition, the freshman class includes 14 National Merit Finalists and 32 high school valedictorians. Highlights of recent developments in the university and college include: -- On July 15, Beverly Davenport Sypher, PhD, began her appointment as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. Most recently, Dr. Davenport Sypher served as Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at Purdue University. -- On July 8, officials from UC and Chongqing University (CQU) in China signed an historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) that establishes a Joint Engineering Co-op Institute between the two universities. UC will provide expertise in establishing a mandatory co-op program at CQU in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. Chinese students in the program will study four years in China and spend their fifth year on the UC campus. They will receive a bachelor's degree from both institutions. -- The University of Cincinnati Research Institute (UCRI) named UC CEAS alumnus David Linger, MS AE '93, as chief executive officer effective July 15. UCRI developed from the common interests of UC faculty and industry leaders serves to connect UC experts to industry partners, facilitate commercialization of research and enhance cooperative and experiential learning experiences for UC students. -- Effective August 15, the existing CEAS "Schools" will change their names to departments to be more consistent with the administrative organizations of our peer institutions across the country, and also better able to serve our students and faculty.
I invite you to re-connect with the college and university in the coming year as we share with others just how it is that We Engineer Better™. I hope you will continue to follow us on Twitter @uc_ceas and Facebook.

A partnership between UC and Chongqing University in China will lead to the adoption of UC's mandatory co-op model in that country. In addition, UC's engineering curricula will be offered at Chongqing.

Ahmed Elgafy, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, was named the College of Engineering and Applied Science's Professor of the Semester. Also recognized were Logan Brooks for Teacher's Assistant of the Semester; Timothy Schafermeyer as Junior of the Year; and John Lewnard for Freshman of the Year.

The aerospace program at UC has consistently exhibited a strong history of leadership. Students during the 2013 spring semester lived up to that history by winning awards, thriving in competitions, and gaining regional attention.

The Bearcat Baja Racing Team held strong as they competed against hundreds of universities from around the world in the annual Baja SAE intercollegiate design competition held April 18-21, 2013 with an overall finish of 12th out of 100!

Four CEAS research presentations were given at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International Gas Turbine Institute's Turbo Expo, held June 3-7 in San Antonio. The 58th annual event unites leading experts in the turbomachinery industry to share the latest innovations.

CEAS; UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services; Princeton Community Middle School; and Knovation, Inc. have partnered to bring students "Knovation," an elective course that's teaching Princeton students to think creatively in order to spur innovation.

The UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics recently received a generous donation from the relative of CEAS legend Dr. Bradley Jones.